Pages

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

SOPHISTRY

In the Book of Mormon
there is a story about a man who desired to become the king over the Nephites (see
Alma 46-47). He gathered
together a group of his like-minded followers and came up with a plan to
overthrow the legally organized system of government.

He was discovered,
confronted, and after violent resistance, escaped to live with the Lamanites.

Unwilling to let go of
his desires for kingship, he devised a plan to ingratiate himself with the king
of the Lamanites. The unwitting king,
power hungry himself, fell right into the trap and lost his mortal life and the
leadership of his people.

While a cautionary tale
of what can happen when people become fixated on having power over others,
there is another message I have recently gleaned from this story.

It has to do with a word
we don’t use much these days. Some of
our prophets
have uttered it and I wonder if we might not be wise to add it to our
vocabulary. It describes exactly what
goes on in our modern, sophisticated (hmmm, maybe this word is related)world.

SOPHISTRY – subtly deceptive reasoning or argument

O, the trouble a little member can make.

As I understand, it is
the taking of a truth and twisting it (sometimes ever so slightly)to fit some desire that is less than righteous.

For instance, there are
many in our world – government, religious, social, etc. – that would have us
believe it is just fine for a man and woman to live together without the
contract of marriage. After all, loving
someone is what is important. If there
is no marriage license, well, that’s alright if they love each other.

And the truth is, we
have all come to accept these arrangements because they have become so common.

For a second example, I will
refer you to this post by my lovely
daughter. She has hit a home-run with her
insight on this matter.

I submit that sophistry
is a HUGE force in many aspects of this world.
Consider how often politicians – on both sides – say what is expedient for the moment and
then change their tune when the smoke drifts another direction.

But you may wonder: is sophistry
really that harmful? If a slight
twisting of the truth accomplishes a good thing, isn’t it appropriate?

My response is to cite
the end of the story begun at the top of the message.

When the rebellious
Nephite ascended to the throne of the Lamanite nation, he did it by
orchestrating the death of the Lamanite king.
His deceptions were undiscovered and he was lauded as someone who would
successfully fill the old king’s shoes in leadership.

Not satisfied with the
kingship alone, this wicked man also went to the widow of the dead king and
offered to “take her to wife” that she might not be left alone. She accepted – not knowing that the very man
who had murdered her husband had just become her new spouse. Had she taken a little time to consider recent
events or ask a few questions, she might not have been so accepting of the
proposal.

When we let the
sophistries of the world corrupt our vision of truth we are bound for difficult
times. Instead of seeing what IS, we begin to see what someone wants us to see. The more we see it, the more it becomes what we believe is true.

BUT IT ISN’T.

As a Latter-day Saint I am
often accused of hating different groups of people. It is not true. There are actions that LDS believers cannot
accept but we are willing (and try to) love
all people.

Used to be people believed this more
but not so much today.

I can tolerate many
things but I cannot accept as right any action or belief that violates the laws
of God as given by His prophets and the scriptures. Yes, I am a sinner and have
my own problems to work out, but that does not mean I have given up trying to
overcome my weakness as I encourage and help others to do.

The results of sophistry
are always negative to individuals and societies. The fall of every great civilization began
with little, subtle arguments that led to great changes in morality. Fighting against that which corrupts and
destroys is not hatred, it is loyalty to God.

The way of worldliness.

To close, I offer a
quote from a modern prophet of God. He
specifically addresses some of the sophistry that invades the lives of all who
live on the earth.

I need not
remind you that the world we are in is a world of turmoil, of shifting values. Shrill
voices call out for one thing or another in betrayal of time-tested standards
of behavior. The moral moorings of our society have been badly shaken. So many
of the youth of the world, and likewise so many of their elders, listen only to
the seductive voice of self-gratification. You single young women face
tremendous challenges, and we know it is not easy for you. I cannot say enough
of appreciation for your determination to live by the standards of the Church,
to walk with the strength of virtue, to keep your minds above the slough of
filth which seems to be moving like a flood across the world. Thank you for
knowing there is a better way. Thank you for the will to say no. Thank you for
the strength to deny temptation and look beyond and above to the shining light
of your eternal potential. (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1995)

You might also be
interested in this
message from Elder Dallin H. Oaks, given recently at BYU-Idaho.